Investigations are still ongoing between Interpol's national bureaus of Malta, Italy, Greece and Cairo to establish who was behind the 'intentional' ramming of a boatload of migrants, a spokesman for the Home Affairs Ministry told The Malta Independent when asked for an update on the investigations.

Early in September, smugglers rammed a boat load of migrants leading to the drowning of an estimated 500 migrants, 100 of which are reported to have been children.

The Maltese authorities interviewed some survivors to obtain as much information as possible about the horrific incident, which took place in Maltese waters. Reportedly, one of the migrants who tried to survive after clinging on to the smugglers' boat, had his hands chopped off by the smugglers.

The migrants are understood to have been asked by the smugglers to change boat and when they migrants refused to do so, the smugglers rammed their boat, causing it to sink.

In an interview with The Malta Independent late last month, Home Affairs Minister Emmanuel Mallia said that the Maltese authorities are seeking cooperation with other countries in a bid to bring the criminals to justice.

Dr Mallia also said that the Maltese police have recorded interviews with survivors of the ordeal as this tragic event happened in Malta's Search and Rescue area.